THIBAUD VINCENDON
36 years old
Paris, France
+33 (0) 6.33.37.78.52
Barcelona, Spain
+34 722 58 34 20
PRESS ARTICLES
Below you will find some press articles related to the projects in which I was involved.
What Will COVID-19 Mean for LNG?
BCG, March 2020
Already grappling with a supply glut in liquefied natural gas (LNG), global gas companies face fresh challenges due to two seismic events: the COVID-19 pandemic and the global oil price shocks. Together, these developments are set to deepen and lengthen the current imbalance between supply and demand in LNG markets, leading to a lower-for-longer price environment. As a result, up to 8% of global LNG demand could be at risk (more than 25 million tonnes per annum, or MTPA) in the near term while the low-price environment could last another one to two years.
Neptune Energy and Sonatrach begin production at Algerian gas project
February 2019
Neptune Energy and Sonatrach have started production at the Touat gas project in the Sbaa basin in Algeria as part of project commissioning.
Located 1,500km south-west of Algiers, near Adrar, the project is estimated to have a peak production capacity of 75,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Comprising eight gas fields and a gas processing plant, Touat is expected to begin gas export production by the end of the first half of this year.
Neptune Energy CEO Jim House said: “First gas in at Touat marks a significant milestone for this important project. We are now focused on delivering commercial full export production by the end of the first half of the year.”
As part of the project development, the partners drilled 18 new development wells.
“We are now focused on delivering commercial full export production by the end of the first half of the year.”
Work also included the construction of a road, aircraft runway, living quarters, and gathering network and gas treatment facilities. A connection to the main GR5 pipeline built by Sonatrach was also installed to collect the gas from south-west Algeria and bring it to Hassi R’Mel, located 800km to the north.
In March 2010, Neptune and Sonatrach established the Groupement TouatGaz joint venture (JV) to operate the project.
Neptune operates the JV with a 35% interest, while Sonatrach also holds 35%. Engie owns the remaining 30% stake. The project is anticipated to produce of 4.5 billion standard cubic metres of gas and 630,000 barrels of condensates.
Neptune Energy sets aim on being the next BG Group
Sylvia Pfeifer, Energy Correspondent
FEBRUARY 16, 2018 - Sam Laidlaw has set his sights high. The former chief executive of Centrica, the utility, wants to build his new venture, Neptune Energy, into the next BG Group.
The independent grew almost exponentially from its roots as a North Sea gas business into a global player with operations from Australia to Tanzania before being bought by Royal Dutch Shell in 2016 for $50bn. “We’ve got a little way to go before we get there but we certainly want to build a business in the same way that BG was recognised as being the leading international independent gas company in its field,” said Mr Laidlaw. “We have a sort of similar aspiration but it doesn’t have to be all about size . . . it’s about being innovative, really,” he added.
The 62-year-old was speaking on Thursday after sealing his first deal at the helm of Neptune to buy the oil and gas assets of France’s Engie for around $3.9bn. The acquisition transforms private-equity backed Neptune into an international independent with operations spanning the North Sea, north Africa and Southeast Asia. It already has scale, with production of more than 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day — well ahead of the output of London-listed independent producers such as Tullow Oil and Premier Oil and of a similar level to Norway’s Aker BP, Europe’s largest independent”.
Neptune Energy completes acquisition of Engie E&P
LONDON -- Neptune Energy Group has announced the completion of the acquisition of Engie E&P International SA (EPI). The transaction sees Neptune become an international independent E&P company across the North Sea, North Africa and Southeast Asia, producing 154,000 net boed in 2017.
Neptune’s new global platform offers a sustainable asset base throughout the E&P value chain, a good balance of oil and gas and with low operating costs. The North Sea region benefits from a strong operating base in strategic assets such as Cygnus in the UK and Gjøa in Norway, while Neptune is the leading offshore operator in the Netherlands. North Africa and Southeast Asia provide near-term gas volume growth into strengthening markets while Germany offers a strong, long-life oil production base.
Jangkrik Project starts production, offshore Indonesia
5/15/2017 SAN DONATO MILANESE -- Eni has started gas production from the Jangkrik Development Project, in deep water offshore Indonesia, ahead of schedule. The project comprises the gas fields Jangkrik and Jangkrik North East, located in the Muara Bakau block, Kutei basin, in the deep water of Makassar Strait.
Production from 10 deepwater subsea wells, connected to the newly built Floating Production Unit (FPU) Jangkrik, will gradually reach 450 MMscfd, equivalent to 83,000 boed. The gas, once processed onboard the FPU, will flow via a dedicated 79-km pipeline to the Onshore Receiving Facility, both built by Eni, and then through the East Kalimantan Transportation System, finally reaching the Bontang gas liquefaction plant.
Gas volumes from Jangkrik will supply the local domestic market as well as the LNG export market, providing a significant contribution to Indonesia’s current energy requirements and future economic development.
Production start-up within three and a half years from the sanctioning of the project is further confirming Eni's capabilities in fast-track developments. It is a benchmarking record in the industry and a major step forward for Eni's activities in Indonesia.
"We are very proud of what we have achieved with the Jangkrik Development Project," said Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi. "The completion of the project and the start-up of production ahead of schedule further confirm Eni’s strategy and global capabilities. Furthermore, it provides the opportunity for the Jangkrik Floating Production Unit to become a hub for the development of our nearby gas discovery Merakes (Eni 85%, Pertamina 15%), which could start production within the next two years. We will consolidate our near field exploration strategy and operating model and maximize the integrated development of our projects also in Indonesia."
Eni is the operator with a 55% stake of the Muara Bakau PSC through its subsidiary Eni Muara Bakau B.V. The other partners are ENGIE E&P (through its subsidiary GDF SUEZ Exploration Indonesia BV) with 33.334% and PT. Saka Energi Muara Bakau with 11.666%. All the activities are carried out in coordination with SKKMigas, the entity representing the Government of Indonesia.
Eni has been operating in Indonesia since 2001 and currently has a large portfolio of assets in exploration, production and development. Production activities are located in the Mahakam River Delta, East Kalimantan, through the participated Company VICO Ltd (Eni 50%, Saka Energi 50%) operator of the Sanga Sanga PSC that provides an average equity production of 14,000 boed.
Eni: Jangkrik FPU vessel ready to sail to Muara Bakau block offshore Indonesia
San Donato Milanese (MI), 21 March 2017 – Eni announces that the naming ceremony of the “Jangkrik” Floating Production Unit (FPU) vessel was held today at Saipem Karimun Yard, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Indonesia by H.E. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia Ignasius Jonan. The FPU shall operate in the Muara Bakau PSC located in the Kutei Basin, in the Makassar Strait offshore for the “Jangkrik Complex Fields”.
The Floating Production Unit will now sail to its final destination where, once in position, will commence mooring and hook-up operations.
The project foreseen the First Gas within three and half years from the sanctioning. The FPU will be located in strategic position that will also allow the prompt development of nearby discoveries in a region rich of gas resources.
The newly built FPU has a gas processing and export capacity up to 450 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d); ten production deep-water subsea wells will be connected to the FPU. The gas, once processed onboard the FPU, will then reach using a new dedicated 79 km pipeline and a new Onshore Receiving Facilities, the East Kalimantan Transportation System and the Bontang gas liquefaction plant.
The Jangkrik gas volumes will supply the local domestic market, the Indonesian LNG market as well as the LNG export market providing a significant contribution to the Country’s energy needs and economic development.
Eni is the operator with a 55% stake of the Muara Bakau PSC through its affiliate Eni Muara Bakau B.V.; the other partners are Engie E&P with 33,334% and PT. Saka Energi Muara Bakau with 11,664%.
Eni has been operating in Indonesia since 2001 and currently has a large portfolio of assets in exploration, production and development. Production activities are located in the Mahakam River delta, East Kalimantan through the participated Company VICO Ltd (Eni 50%, Saka Energi 50%) operator of the Sanga Sanga PSC that provides an average equity production of 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
ENGIE signs its first Jangkrik LNG Sale & Purchase Agreements
ENGIE (formerly GDF SUEZ), eni, and Saka Energi signed today in Jakarta two LNG “Sales and Purchase Agreements” for the Jangkrik Development Project with PT Pertamina (PERSERO), the Indonesian largest natural gas transportation and distribution company.
Under these agreements, Pertamina will purchase 1.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG starting in2017.
Gas will be produced from the Jangkrik and Jangkrik North East deepwater gas fields, currently under development under a fast track scheme, to target first gas in 2017. This gas will be partly routed to supply domestic onshore market as a commitment to the Indonesian gas market.
The Jangkrik E&P to LNG project will represent a new source for ENGIE LNG portfolio to supply high growth countries and especially Asia.
Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice-President of ENGIE said: “These agreements mark an important milestone for the Jangkrik Development Project, as the marketing of the gas started. This E&P to LNG project illustrates ENGIE strategy in many ways: the E&P strategy to invest in high potential regions, such as Indonesia and the LNG strategy to supply Asia.”
Jangkrik and Jankgrik North East gas fields are located in the Muara Bakau licence, whose partners are eni (55%-operator), ENGIE (33.333 %) and Saka Energi (11.666 %)
El gas es crisis y solución para Chile
MEJILLONES, Chile, 16 jun 2014 (IPS) - En abril de 2004, Argentina comenzó a recortar inexorablemente los envíos de gas natural a Chile, lo que desató una crisis energética de grandes proporciones y destapó la existencia de problemas estructurales en el vital sector que persisten hasta ahora.
Diez años después, un terminal de regasificación de gas licuado para reconvertirlo en gas natural, ubicado en el puerto de Mejillones, 1.400 kilómetros al norte de Santiago, parece aportar buena parte de la solución a los problemas energéticos del norte del país, epicentro de la escasez hídrica y de millonarias actividades mineras.
La presidenta Michelle Bachelet se ha mostrado confiada en que, junto a las energías renovables, el gas natural contribuirá a la diversificación de la matriz energética y enfatizó que lo que “hagamos o no hagamos ahora va a tener consecuencias en el futuro”.
Bachelet inauguró el 14 de mayo el estanque de almacenamiento en tierra del terminal de regasificación de Gas Natural Licuado Mejillones (GNLM), el más grande de América Latina y el segundo del mundo después de Japón.
El terminal es propiedad del grupo francés GDF Suez, con 63 por ciento de las acciones, y de la estatal Corporación del Cobre de Chile (Codelco), con el resto.
Fue Bachelet quien puso en 2008 la primera piedra de la planta, durante su primer gobierno (2006-2010), y luego en febrero de 2010 asistió a la llegada del primer barco metanero.
Esta vez, Bachelet inauguró un enorme estanque de almacenamiento que cuenta con una capacidad aproximada de 187.000 metros cúbicos y es del tipo de “contención total”, con un tanque de acero niquelado dentro de otro y recubierto por fuera por hormigón.
El presidente del Grupo GDF Suez, Gerard Mestrallet, explicó que se construyó con el más alto estándar de seguridad, por lo que es antisísmico y está ubicado sobre la cota de eventuales tsunamis.
El estanque cuenta con 501 aisladores elastoméricos que le permiten resistir los esfuerzos provocados por un terremoto de gran magnitud. Además posee sofisticados sistemas de monitoreo y protección.
La ampliación de GNLM significó una inversión adicional de 200 millones de dólares, que se suman a los 550 millones de dólares iniciales del proyecto.
La estructura consolida la planta de la empresa que funcionó durante cuatro años con el barco BW GDF Brussels, que estuvo anclado en la bahía y servía como lugar de almacenamiento de las cargas de gas que llegan a la zona.
Su capacidad equivale a aproximadamente 110 millones de metros cúbicos de gas natural luego del proceso de regasificación, que se transporta a los clientes, mayoritariamente empresas mineras, a través de los gasoductos Nor Andino y GasAtacama.
Los clientes de la empresa son los encargados de importar el gas. Hasta ahora las mineras que firmaron un contrato son la anglo-australiana BHP Billiton, Codelco y la Generadora E-CL, propiedad de GDF Suez.
GNL de Mejillones aprueba construcción de estanque de almacenaje en tierra
El directorio de GNL Mejillones S.A. (GNLM), empresa en que comparten propiedad Codelco y el Grupo GDF Suez, aprobó invertir US$ 200 millones para la construcción de un estanque de almacenamiento de gas natural licuado en tierra, el que reemplazará al sistema actual de barco estanque.
“Codelco respalda y celebra este nuevo hito en el desarrollo de GNL Mejillones, que consolida la apuesta para diversificar la matriz energética del norte grande y para otorgar seguridad en el abastecimiento eléctrico, tanto para la gran minería como para la población de la región”, dijo Diego Hernández, Presidente Ejecutivo de Codelco.
Hace tres años, Codelco y GDF Suez crearon GNL Mejillones, una sociedad a la que concurrieron en partes iguales, con el objeto de asegurar el abastecimiento de gas natural para el Sistema Interconectado del Norte Grande (SING). Sin embargo, aunque la Corporación respalda esta nueva inversión que consolidará las operaciones de GNLM en el largo plazo, no participará en su financiamiento.
Por esta razón, Codelco y GDF Suez llegaron a un acuerdo que permite a Codelco mantener un 37% de la propiedad de la compañía, sin necesidad de desviar recursos de sus inversiones mineras; por su parte, Suez se convierte en el accionista mayoritario de GNLM y financiará completamente la construcción del estanque en tierra.
SEGURIDAD
El estanque que se proyecta construir tendrá una capacidad de 175.000 m3 y es del tipo Contención Total (“full containment”). Este tipo de estanque tiene el más alto estándar de seguridad: considera una construcción antisísmica, así como sofisticados sistemas de monitoreo y protección.
Tras una licitación internacional, la construcción del estanque se adjudicó a Técnicas Reunidas, la misma empresa que completó el terminal de regasificación; mientras que la supervisión del proyecto se le encargó a Tractebel Engineering, empresa afiliada al Grupo GDF SUEZ. Se espera que la nueva instalación de almacenaje entre en operación durante 2013.
La construcción del nuevo sistema de almacenamiento de gas natural licuado cuenta con los permisos ambientales aprobados mediante resolución de calificación ambiental de la Comisión Regional del Medio Ambiente de la II región.
Desde abril de este año, GNL Mejillones entrega en forma confiable más de 2 millones de metros cúbicos de gas natural a cuatro de las principales empresas mineras ubicadas en el norte del país para generación eléctrica de ciclos combinados. GNL Mejillones representa hoy aproximadamente el 25% del mercado eléctrico en el SING.
Actualmente el terminal de regasificación de GNL Mejillones utiliza un barco estanque como sistema de almacenaje.
El terminal de GNL de Mejillones surgió a raíz de la falta de abastecimiento de gas natural proveniente de Argentina, ya que el Sistema Interconectado del Norte Grande (SING) enfrentó una situación de estrechez eléctrica. En ese contexto, el Gobierno encargó a Codelco la tarea de promover la construcción de un terminal regasificador de Gas Natural Licuado en Mejillones. Junto a GDF SUEZ, en 2007 Codelco formó la sociedad GNL Mejillones, con el objeto de abastecer de gas natural a las generadoras del SING. A comienzos de 2008 se inició el desarrollo del proyecto de terminal de GNL con una inversión aproximada de US$ 530 millones, el que en un tiempo record de 24 meses concluyó su construcción, iniciando sus operaciones en el primer trimestre de 2010.
Cabe destacar además que GNL Mejillones recibió el pasado 4 de noviembre el premio “Obra Emblemática CIGRE 2010”, que otorga la organización el capítulo chileno del Consejo Internacional de Grandes Redes Eléctricas (CIGRE), “por la contribución país que la empresa brinda al desarrollo de la economía chilena con este importante terminal que aporta a los objetivos de seguridad, diversificación y sustentabilidad de la matriz energética de Chile”.